Tyler coughed up blood as the figure darted away. A few minutes later, his mom was calling for him. "Tyler? Tyler, your brother Toby said… Oh my god, Tyler!" her hands flew to her mouth, and she yelled, "CONNER!!!! CALL 9-1-1!"

Connor ran out too the driveway. He quickly dialed 911, after seeing his brother's injuries. His face paled, shaking.

Connor knew why this happened. He knew. On the way there, Tyler kept repeating over and over, "Seth. Seth. Seth."

Connor's mother went with Tyler to the hospital. She told Connor to call David, but Connor sat there, ashen-faced.

He had to stop this madness.

He had to talk to his father.

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Morton cleared his throat as he escorted Jake and dragged him to one of Seth's safe houses. They'd be safe there. He just had to lay low until he could cough up his alibi, then he could talk to Kate…

What was he thinking? He couldn't take the kid home!

He didn't know what to do. He thought about it, pacing. After about an hour and a half, he finally sighed and picked up the phone. "Hello? I was told there was an APB out for me? About two hours time…. Of course."

Damn. That wouldn't help things at all!

He glanced at Jake; still sleeping from the drugs Morton had given him. Morton sighed and dragged him to the closet, where he would hopefully be secure. Sticking a chair under the doorknob, he hurried to his car and drove off.

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Twenty-four hours missing

"Tyler's out of surgery. He'll be fine." Connor's mother sighed in relief. "There's something you need to know."

"What?"

"We had a slight complication with the wound, and it looks like he may not be able to regain full use of his right hand right away."

Connor's mother swallowed and looked at the ground. David put his arm around her. "Can we see him?"

"In a few minutes. He's incredibly lucky, you know – he managed to dodge the vital organs. Also, getting help right away really helped him."

David turned to Connor. "Connor, I think you and I need to have a talk."

Connor swallowed hard, and his face paled. "I c-can't, dad!"

"Connor." David's face was tight. Drawn. Pale-faced. "Listen to me. Tyler just got hurt. Jake is missing. And there were two killings in town. What do you know?"

Connor looked down at the ground. He couldn't tell anyone, not until he knew Jake was all right. His dad was right. It was his fault.

"Tell T-Tyler I'm s-sorry," Connor said, running out of the hospital waiting room with tears slowly starting to slide down his cheeks.

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Jake awoke in the closet shivering. He was freezing cold and he couldn't help it. He felt like he was about to puke, and his hands were tied behind his back. A gag was in his mouth and a piece of duct-tape was over that. He moaned softly.

He hadn't had any water since he'd been captured, and he knew that that was the key to recovery from his fever. He tried to get out of the ropes, but he couldn't. He fought back the urge to vomit as his stomach churned.

He knew Seth had him. Was that just a dream that he had seen? Or was it a nightmare? Was all of this a nightmare?

He wanted it just to go away. He slipped into black darkness again.

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Morton grumbled as he was led into the interrogation room. "Is something the matter, officer?" he asked smoothly.

"Where were you thirty-six hours ago?"

"At a bar. I was there the whole night, playing poker with some buddies." Morton stared strait at the man. "Why do you ask?"

The officer sighed. "Your son, Jake Baker, is missing."

"I'm sorry, officer," Morton said in a mocking tone. "I didn't know it was a crime to have sex. Anyway, I most certainly don't know a Jake Baker."

"Surely you've seen the news."

"Yes, I've seen the news!"

"Good, then you'll know he's missing. We have record that he's your child."

"Listen. I know Kate Baker. Wonderful woman. We had sex a few times, okay? We didn't mean nothing by it. We didn't have no kids."

The man sighed and looked at the next man. "We're going to check out your alibi. We'll need the telephone numbers."

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One day, two hours missing

Jake awoke again a few hours later. His stomach churned violently, and his eyes flew open as he heard the doorknob churning. "Aha," Seth said, looking at Jake, "I found you. Morton led me on some nasty chases, that rebel. I will have to remember to thank him when I kill him. That will come later. Today, I have to take care of you. I can't kill you yet, I think your friend Connor may try to talk. So long as they think that Morton kidnapped you, we'll be fine." He smirked as he poured a glass of tap water from the sink and removed Jake's gag.

"Here. Drink. I need you alive. But don't expect to keep living. I mean, there's a few things I could have you do, but – we'll just see how it works out." Seth ran his hand down Jake's cheek, and Jake shivered at the touch.

"We'll need to get you out of those clothes, too. I can't kill you yet. Anyway, it's lucky that I knew we had to, well, anyway. Here," he said, tossing the clothes at Jake. Jake frowned when he saw it was a sweater, jeans and a t-shirt. "Change."

Jake frowned and tried to shut the door, but Seth shook his head. "I'll turn around, but I don't trust you, kiddo."

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One day, six hours missing

Kate sobbed as the officer told her that no, the man didn't have anything to do with it. "That sick son of a bitch! I know he does," Kate cried.

"Listen, we can't do anything, okay? He's got a solid alibi for the last thirty hours. Go home and get some sleep. Detective David will take over the case tomorrow. His son was injured today."

"Ohmyigod," Kate said, as her hands flew to her mouth. "Listen – officer – do you know what hospital he's at?"

"I take it that wasn't on the news. Kid got stabbed. Listen, I can't give that out, you understand? It was personal info. Now," he said, "I'll show myself out."

Kate turned to Tom, her face frustrated. "I was so sure," she said, dropping down to Jake's bed in grief.

"Do you still want to tell the other kids?" Tom asked after a few minutes.

"Tell me what?" Sarah demanded, sticking her head in. "Sorry, I had to show the officer out. He got lost."

"Sarah, I need to tell you a secret."

"I'm all ears."

"If you spread it, no allowance for a week."

"Scout's honor."

Kate dried her tears and looked strait at Sarah. "Jake isn't your brother."

Sarah's mouth dropped open. "Now I understand," she said.

Tom paled. Kate watched him, and then looked at Sarah, who clamped her mouth shut. "I'm sorry."

Kate glared at her. "Tell."

"I, I was watching once. Tom… h-he was talking to Jake… and, and…." she shook her head. "He had Jake's shirt off and was forcing him in the closet. That's all I saw."

Kate's jaw dropped and she turned to Tom. "You better have a damn good explanation," she growled.